Menorahs will soon burn bright as the global Jewish community celebrates the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, which runs from Dec. 12 to 20 this year.
Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of Jewish survival, like most holiday observances within the faith that present the central theme of triumph over evil.
As the miraculous story goes, in 164 BCE, the Maccabees were victorious against enemies of Israel and rededicated the holy temple by lighting the candelabra (menorah). The miracle continued when a quantity of oil that was only expected to light the lamp for one day actually lasted for eight.
Holidays throughout the calendar year are symbolically designed to assist us in our quest for growth, so let us reflect on some modern-day miracles.
The survival of world Jewry following the Holocaust certainly tops the list.
What could be more representative of the light-themed festival of Hanukkah than survivors who overcame the darkest period in our history, when six million lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis? In South Florida, we are fortunate to have one of the world’s largest communities of Holocaust eyewitnesses to live alongside and learn from, even long after they are gone.
Also, Israel will soon celebrate its 70th year of independence. April 18, 2018, will mark the observance of Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha‘atzmaut), with events in Israel and around the world highlighting the milestone.
How truly amazing it is that only three short years following the end of the Holocaust, a Jewish homeland welcoming people of all religions and nationalities began to grow. It stands to reason then that the Jewish state is often referred to as the nation that grew out of the ashes of the Holocaust.
Locally, we have watched a successful community develop over the last few decades.
More than 500,000 Jews make their homes in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, where houses of worship, organizations and businesses continue to thrive. Interfaith and interracial relations have also helped strengthen and build bridges in our diverse community.
Regardless of which elected official proposed and implemented them, breakthroughs in healthcare and science are helping us live longer and more vibrant lives.
And advances in the digital world gives us the opportunity to communicate with billions of global residents via the Internet. Makes us wonder how we ever did without these innovative technologies.
Still, with all of this progress, we may feel helpless to stop the meaningless loss of lives and hatred that continue to plague our society. But we are not.
And it makes us appreciate the greatest miracle of all: the gift of life during Hanukkah and every day of the year.
Email your thoughts to Editor Alan Goch at ALGoch@sun-sentinel.com.